Double delight for rising star driver

JUST week’s after registering her biggest success, Zara Fitzpatrick has doubled down on feature glory.

Among New South Wales’ most talented young drivers, Fitzpatrick captured a $100,000 Australian Pacing Gold Final with Swinging Queen at Club Menangle on June 13.

Making Fitzpatrick’s triumph all-the-more special is her father Blake trains the two-year-old, while her mother Lisa is a part-owner.

“That is my biggest win and I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Fitzpatrick said. “Winning a $100,000 race is the kind of thing you dream of as a driver, and the fact Dad trains it and Mum is one of the owners just makes it that much more special.”

Returning to Australia’s premier circuit last night, Fitzpatrick claimed two of the feature races on the program.

“It was a bit of a surprise, but very exciting,” Fitzpatrick said. “To win any race, especially at Menangle, is terrific, but a big race is something else.

“I was so thrilled after the first one, then to win a second was unbelievable…it was a surreal night.”

Fitzpatrick opened her account by steering Cee Cee In Paris to victory in the New South Wales Trot Final for three-year-olds.

Leading throughout from barrier five, Cee Cee In Paris scored by four-and-a-half metres from Brother Mountain, with Gladiatrix two metres away third.

“She has been a wonderful filly and to get another feature win with her is amazing,” Fitzpatrick said. “The Vicbred and Victoria Trotters’ Oaks are options with her, but that’s up to Dad.”

Also trained by Blake and owned by Lisa, Cee Cee In Paris covered the mile in 1:56, with her time identical to Malibuu in the Four and Five-Year-Old Final.

Like her stablemate, Malibuu led throughout to account for San Juan Mountain and Donnie Gal.

“She was first-up from a break, but had been trialing well, so I knew she was ready to run a big race,” Fitzpatrick said. “Once she got to the front I became very confident.”